Toronto Building Fire: Huge flames and thick black smoke seen in video as massive blaze triggers rooftop explosion; watch here

Toronto Building Fire: A fire broke out on the roof of a commercial building in downtown Toronto, causing an explosion on Friday evening (March 27, 2026). Firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the blaze, which was located on Richmond Street W. near John Street at a building under construction, according to Toronto firefighters and police, CBC News reported.

“TFS Crews remain on scene after a 2-Alarm fire on the roof of a commercial building on Richmond St W resulted in ruptured propane cylinders, heavy flames and thick smoke. Crews protected the remaining cylinders and have extinguished the fire. No injuries reported,” Toronto Fire Services said in a social media post on Friday.





Several videos of the fire and explosion on the roof of a downtown Toronto building surfaced on social media, showing flames and thick black smoke rising into the air amid the blaze.




Toronto Fire Services (TFS) said crews were called to 296 Richmond St. W. just after 6 p.m. for a roof fire. TFS Deputy Chief Paul Fitzgerald told CP24 crews arrived within 90 seconds after the call. “On arrival, there were several explosions,” Fitzgerald said. “They made their way up to the roof. They were faced with what looked like a heavy structure fire on the roof.”




In the images captured by Chopper 24, intense flames and thick black smoke were seen billowing from the roof of the six-story commercial building. The police said it was under construction. At one point, Chopper 24 caught an explosion, with huge flames shooting toward the sky.

TFS also stated that the two-alarm fire ruptured up to three propane cylinders that were on the roof. The fire department added that crews were able to protect the remaining cylinders and knock down the blaze. “The crews of Toronto Fire are very aggressive, operationally strong, made really good progress. Even during the roof fire and the explosions, they made their way up there,” Fitzgerald said, as quoted by CTV News.

“There will be an investigation as to what was alight. There is some construction going up there. That’s probably where the investigation will focus,” he added.